BBC Radio 3 Publicity confirmed to me today the rumours which have been circulating: the BBC has indeed withdrawn from running its Jazz Awards this year. Jazz is supported, valued, well promoted […]

Gene Krupa (1909-1973) There wasn’t really any need for kitchen performance anxiety tonight. One of the cast-iron certainties in British jazz is that a band directed by Pete Long will cook. This […]

NOT this Phil Woods. A different one The 14th Annual Budvar Cheltenham Jazz Festival had its launch at Ronnie Scott’s today. Festival Producer Steve Symons’ blog gives an update of how it’s […]

A moment, it seems yet another moment when we remember a unique voice in British jazz. Ian Carr died peacefully yesterday. His early career is detailed here .A Nucleus website which announced […]

1) On finishing the course: “You’ll know when you’ve finished the course. Some people have already finished before they’ve even started. There are others who will never finish.” Basil Tchaikov’s remark to […]

P icture of the Blue Notes from the early 1960’s: Chris McGregor (piano) Dudu Pukwana (sax) Louis Moholo (drums), Johnny Dyani( bass) Mongezi Feza (trumpet/flute) The Youtube clip below haunts the mind. […]

Amazing where things get announced. Oliver Weindling of the Vortex and Babel (pictured above with David Mossman , the father of the old and the new Vortex) has just been awarded an […]

On May 2nd, 1975, in Whipps Cross Hospital (nearest tube Leytonstone) a global brand was born to parents Ted and Sandra Beckham. As Brand Republic reported yesterday, the custodians of the Beckham […]

Scots jazz singer Alison Burns has been touring Sri Lanka courtesy of the British Council with her father-in-law Martin Taylor, and close to all sorts of danger . A scary account is […]

Jazz in London for March is available online NOW I am struck by the contrast between some of my recent items about things being quietly closed down, often where jazz is marginal […]

The BBC Jazz Awards ….. the empty stage(?) After the on-off saga of Brecon, time to look at what else might be off….or possibly on. 1) The Jazzwise Summer School “Jazzwise Summer […]

The Chicken Shed, Enfield on Friday March 6th: Five trombones. I’ve been thinking about a rating system for gigs. I want to highlight music which is melodic, approachable, friendly, and kind to […]

Mishka Adams Friday 20th February, Front Room, South Bank Centre, Mishka Adams Band. Free I only caught the second half tonight, so call this a snapshot or an apology rather than a […]

I like the look of the French jazz week at the new Kings Place concert hall by Kings Cross station, which is just announced for June. I like it a LOT. Much […]

Simon Purcell (left) Gwilym Simcock (right) 1) Those who teach also can.(Tuesday 24th Lord Rookwood, Leytonstone) An exciting band of players who know each other very well is out next Tuesday 24th […]